REFURBISHMENT work is to be carried out at Blackburn magistrates’ court after borough planner granted consent for changes to the grade-II listed building.

The scheme includes internal works to provide a new witness access route via the secondary entrance on Northgate, refurbishment of the existing witness waiting area, removal of existing tea-point, conversion of the adjacent storage room into witness WC and refurbishment of the existing security office.

Permission had been sought for the works which will enable a safe entrance and waiting area for vulnerable witnesses attending the court.

The listed building dates back to 1912.

The council's own Northgate Conservation Area Character Appraisal states: "Erected in 1912 and designed by Briggs, Wolstenholme and Thornley, the central police station and court house on Northgate is now a grade-II listed building.

"Constructed of Butler Delph stone as a replacement to the court rooms that were historically attached to the rear of the town hall on King William Street, this classical style building is formed by a central seven bay three-storey block with two two-storey wings.

"During the 1970s the building was linked to Blackburn Library by a pedestrian footbridge.

"However, whilst this bridge is no longer in use and is considered to restrict the southerly vista from Sudell Cross along Northgate, the building still helps to form an extremely attractive group of early twentieth century civic buildings and as such is considered fundamental to the special interest of the conservation area."

Granting listed building consent for the work, council planning officer Claire Booth said: “Central Police Station and Court House, Blackburn Magistrates Court, is a Grade II listed building, attached to King Georges Hall, also Grade II listed.

“These form a group of attractive civic buildings (designated heritage assets) within Northgate Conservation Area.

“The scope of works and extent of alterations and improvements proposed have been designed to ensure that key principles are applied to the conservation based approach to mitigate against significant loss of historic fabric and of alterations that would contribute to having a detrimental effect on the character of the listed interior.”